Archive for December, 2008

The Resurrection of the Saints will surpass the most fascinating dreams of science fiction proponents. Their wildest imaginations hold no light to what the Creator is planning for His new world. In fact, when you try to understand the science fiction world it often turns grotesque and ugly. Their dreams and imaginations are degenerate and repressive while the Creator’s plans are regenerating and alive. The positive accomplishments of the science world can always be attributed to the facts of the intelligent designs of our Eternal Creator. The wildest ideas that are exploding around us goes right back to the incredible universe that we inherited from God.

And, we have only seen the beginning; limited by fallen man. The prophetic future is far beyond the most fascinating facts we have experienced. Supernatural explosions of mind-stretching events are right on the horizon. Our world is about to move beyond imagination into a realm where the supernatural God will once again walk literally with man. The glorified bodies of His saints will be clothed in light and move through His universe with unlimited speed. Our minds will be so complete that our grasp of God will no longer be limited to faith. When we enter the presence of the Divine, we will do so without fear but as His family and in His likeness.

Our universe is presently in pain and groaning to be free. Even nature and the creative designs of the natural world are like an animal trying to break out of its cage. The wild storms of hurricanes, tornados, and earthquakes were never meant to be; but show the effects of sin and a natural world screaming, "Enough is enough". "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now" (Romans 8:22). Our universe will shortly be a perfect world without any "out of control" expression. Not one animal will be ferocious and not one soul will be unhappy. Peace will be without alloy. Pain will not exist.

The human body in the resurrection is a perfect design of the Resurrected Son of God. The Spirit said by the Apostle Paul, "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself" ( Philippians 3:20-21). The Son of God totally transformed the future when He walked straight through death and left no limits behind. Our new bodies will be an eternal specimen of perfect life. Present human limitations of space, movement, and time will have been removed and replaced. Life will take on the likeness of the Divine. Please understand, not Divine but the likeness of the Divine. We will for eternity be subject to know life in Him not apart from Him.

The early church had such a concept of the future that death became a doorway to promotion. The Apostle Paul said to the church at Corinth, "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life" (II Corinthians 5:1-4).

Many of these saints were martyrs that welcomed their promotion. "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21) was a philosophy of life that made the church invincible.

The resurrection of the saints is merely the beginning of a new world. The climate of the universe will be perfect. There will not be any oceans to divide the continents, no language barriers to inhabit conversations and no nationalities to fight about. War will be nonexistent because no one will be selfish. The future will be a theocracy under the design of a perfect Creator. No one will have a "want" so no one will have a complaint.

Actually, Heaven is going to come down and be united with a New Earth totally transformed and redeemed from ever possibility of limits. Jesus Christ will be the light of the universe and no shadows will exist. The water of life will flow from the city of New Jerusalem and the tree of life will line both sides and stretch to the ends of the New World. There are words in our language today that shall not exist in the single language of God’s New World. Ugly, evil, pain, sorrow, tears, gloom, regrets, dark, or death; just to name a few.

Present day science fiction does not hold a light. The efforts to clone humans will certainly be a disaster whatever may be the success. A human body without a soul would be worse than the worst of all animals. The endless books and movies of sadistic vampires and of occult themes will prepare the world for demonic deception, but not for happy lives. The divide between Biblical truths and hope and the false lies of evil will grow into a chasm and then the end will come. The Words of the Bible will continue to shine unto the supernatural day of our great God and His Son of redemption. The Cross of Christ has won the final triumph over all human imaginations. "Hath God chosen Â…things which are not, to bring to nought things that are" (I Corinthians 1:28b).

The number of gods worshipped by men is innumerable. Every demon or fallen angel desires to be a god controlling somebody’s life. We live in a world where war is the constant choice of these evil spirits. The Bible could not be more direct on this subject. "For wewrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6: 12) You must take this truth to heart in these last days. When you look at all the Mythology invading our world it is evident that satan"s forces are battling with one another just like they battle with you. The entire pagan world is a picture of war between the evil spirit behind every false religion. Not only do they desire control over us they desire control over each other. Satan has always made a fool of himself. He ia a lier and the father of lies. The One and Only true and Living God is about to manifest Himself to our world. He will defeat the vast army that marches against Israel and he will send His Holy Spirit to grant Revival to His Travailing Saints. Either before or after these two great events, the Rapture of "The Chosen Saints" will occur. Nothing must ever be named as having to happen before Jesus comes for His saints. The Father will decide. Remember, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth ittself against the knowledge of God…." (II Corinthians 10: 4_5a)Please send your questions or comments to jrc@pawcreek.org.

The Holy Bible has clearly promised "the Latter Rain of Pentecostal Power." The False Charismatic movement of the last three or four decades has left the Fundamental Church world leery of any expectation for true Revival. I certainly understand why Bible believers have lost hope for a soul harvest. The present Rick Warren phenomenon has added to this dismay with its empty Schullerism of positive thinking. America and the world need a sovereign move of the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin. The Holy Bible is explicit that the Spirit of God will reveal a mixture of grace and judgment to finish the harvest before the end. I believe this move of God has begun and will escalate into a mighty visitation.

An early and latter rain was a principle of the Holy Scripture for the Nation of Israel when they were chiefly a rural people. God promised them that their crops and pastures would always be blessed. The latter rain was promised to provide the barley fields or vineyards just in time to bring the fruit of the fields to full head. The short time before harvest was the most pertinent period right before the gathering into the barns.

It’s beautiful to see how the Holy Spirit took this truth from the natural world and applied it to the spiritual promises. First, look at the beauty of this promise and how Israel missed God’s fullness of blessings. "But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you" (Jeremiah 5:23-25).

Then Hosea shows us how the great hand of God longed to return and lay His best promises at their feet. "Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth" (Hosea 6:1-3).

While Hosea had a spiritual note, it was the Prophet Joel that took this great principle of God’s care for Israel and gave it the broader meaning of the Pentecostal blessing. Joel laid the groundwork for understanding the Pentecostal outpouring that came ten days after Christ’s ascension. Joel shows us that this outpouring of the Spirit would be given in two parts. An early rain given moderately and a latter rain that He implied would be an outpouring. That outpouring is yet to be fulfilled.

Let’s read carefully Joel’s prophecy, "Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month" (Joel 2:23). Following this rain of the Spirit was the promise of the Great Harvest and the restoration of a large ingathering. It paints a beautiful picture, but then Joel adds a description strictly speaking of the latter rains of this outpouring to be even greater.

Please notice how Joel separates the early rain and harvest from the latter rain and harvest. He said "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall cal l" (Joel 2: 28-32).

This promise is absolutely at the footsteps of those willing to be totally surrendered. There will certainly be a large company of professing believers that choose the New World Religion and serve the Antichrist. It will cost total surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and a separated lifestyle to share the Latter Rain outpouring. It will be greater than the Book of Acts history of the early rain. It has already begun in some Third World countries. Six million Muslims are converting to Jesus Christ yearly throughout the Muslim world.

Apostle Peter, moved by the Holy Ghost, took these exact words of Joel and promised that Acts chapter two was just the beginning. For almost 2000 years, this moderate rain has occurred. Never has there been an outpouring mingled with judgments as both Joel and Peter stated. The judgments of Ananias and Sapphira were a small foretaste of what this latter rain will include. That act of judgment caused great fear followed by miracles, signs, and a wonderful harvest. "And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitude s both of men and women" (Acts 5:11-14).

Now, imagine what fear and conviction will follow the kind of judgment God is preparing for our world. Peter stated that God said, "And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:19-21). It’s time for the surrendered, sold-out saints to get ready for harvest time. This visitation will not be the kind of insane action and foolishness one sees on a Benny Hinn set or a TBN — Paul and Jan Crouch — screen. They are a joke to Biblical realities.

The glory that will represent the Latter Rain outpouring will bring judgment on the facade of "Pentecostal entertainment." People living the abandoned life, who honor the Lord Jesus and live the Biblical-centered lifestyle, will be the great men and women that God uses. Flesh will be crucified and Christ will be magnified.

James, the half brother of Jesus Christ, gave us this challenge. We, God’s saints, living in 2008 – 2009, etc are surely the ones He is preparing for this harvest. We are told, "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain" (James 5:7).

James’ words leave no doubt that this is a "Last Days" or "End Times" development. Notice he said "unto the coming of the Lord." Joel had stated that this Latter Rain would be in the "first month." That’s the month of the "Feast of Trumpets," a Biblical type of the Rapture.

Three Biblical Prophecies are developing simultaneously; the war of Gog and Magog, the Latter Rain outpouring, and the Rapture of the Bride. The perfect order of these events must be left to Jehovah God Himself. I’m looking for the Rapture right now; but if He tarries, I’m expecting the Great Judgment of God against the horde of soldiers marching on Israel to shake a world out of complacency. Soon, conviction will fall like rain and Holy Ghost Revival will follow. I fully expect to be in the middle of this outpouring and harvest time until Christ comes for His Bride.

At every crisis moment in human history, when the world had come to the time that the cup of sin was overfull, God Himself has stepped down and said, ENOUGH. From Genesis one to Revelation twenty two, the Father is sovereign over His world. The Bible Has never had a moment when perfect fulfillment of Prophecy was more evident. I believe that God is coming down to set the record straight. Isaiah Prophesied in chapter sixty four (64), "Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thou presence." (Isaiah 64: 1) When Our God judges the horde of Gog and Magog, the nations are going to know it was the God of Holy Scripture. There will be no doubt that He came down and acted to defend His chosen people. When the Son of Man appears in the clouds, the world is going to know that the the Son Of The Living God has visited His world. As the Great Tribulation begins the wicked will look up in their despair and say, "Hide us from the face of Him that sixtieth on the throne, and from the wrath of the lamb: For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand." (Revelation 6:16b-17) My Friend, Our God Is about to Come down. Comments are welcome at jrc@pawcreek.org

The Bible is Literally filled with great prophecies written hundreds and thousands of years in advance. Demon possessed men like Edgar Casey claimed to predict the future but always came up short. There has been a host of false prophets that tried to use prophecies to build a following of supporters. The people they deceived often were willing to overlook many errors to maintain faith. Those that love the Lord Jesus Christ never have to worry because the Bible has never failed. Look at this prophecy written over twenty six hundred (2600)years ago. "….the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of His preparation….The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall jostle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightings." (Nahum 2:3b-4) We were told of Israel as a nation being reborn after being considered dead. After the Nation of Israel was reborn, Zechariah promised that Jerusalem would become "A cup of trembling unto all the people round about." (Zechariah 12:2b) On and on God’s infallible book paint His picture of the future perfectly. No other religion can even compare.Please send your questions or comments to jrc@pawcreek.org.

This generation has seen more Prophecies in progress than seen before in human history. I know of no End Time Prophecy that relate to events before the Great tribulation that are not already complete. There are three major Prophesies in progress that will occur either right before the Rapture or at the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Those are the "War Of Gog and Magog", "The Latter Rain Of Pentecost" and the "Rapture" itself. To live in the fulfillment of these major events is an honor beyond description. I would not trade with the Apostles that had the joy of walking with Jesus when He came the first time. I pray that this Sermon will put you on your face in abandonment to Holy Ghost revival. Remember when Daniel had read that seventy years was the completion of God’s required bondage in Babylon. He sat himself to fasting and prayer for God’s promise to be fulfilled. That’s what God is expecting again. Will you join those that are travailing before our Father. Its time for the Latter rain and we need an army on their face and ready to be used is the harvest. Comments are welcome at jrc@pawcreek.org

Lets compare the views of others religions about a Messiah to the Biblical Truth of the true Christ. The "New Agers" have set the year 2012 for the beginning of the "Crystal Kingdom". In the 1980′s and 1990′s they begin to promote "Contemplative Prayer’ as a way to harmonize the thinking of the world. The demon spirits that used this plan to create a mindset has succeeded in promoting a spirit of the Anti-christ throughout the cultures of the world. Now the emerging church is buying into this evil design. Men like Rick Warren and Rick Joyner, plus many others, are pushing "Contemplative Prayer" and there influence is destroying the faith of millions. The Prophetic Truths in Holy Scripture will not fail. The Son Of God will return on schedule and the Seventieth week of years will begins. That Seventieth week of years prophesied by Daniel and confirmed by Jesus Christ will bring judgment to the world and sin. Its amazing to see the deception of the New Agers exactly the same as the emerging church deception. Post-Millennial doctrines are very little different from New Age doctrines. A One World Religion is a big part of Satan’s plan for a One World Order under the Beast called Anti-christ.Please send your questions or comments to jrc@pawcreek.org.

Every sinner is a walking corpse. The Bible calls it,"Dead in trespasses and sins." (Ephesians 2-1) The Bible clearly reveals that to be unsaved is to be a stranger and foreigner to God. The state of a soul that has not been "Born Again" is lost, so lost. "The wages of sin is Death…." (Romans 6-23) Much of our world lives there life like death is no big things, and forget that hell fire is for eternity. But when we stop to understand that the Saints of God that has been transformed is alive with eternal life right now. We are not going to have eternal life we have eternal life. It abides in us even as we go about our Saintly activities. This is a joy that bubbles inside of us. We shout and rejoice as we endure our burdens and tough places. "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that lived and believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lived and believeth in Me shall never die. Believeth thou this?" (Saint John 11: 25-26) Send for a free poem written and dedicated to this great Saint. Comments are welcome at jrc@pawcreek.org

It’s amazing to listen to the cheap theology of our apostate generation. Cheap grace that covers lacy religion is the order of this last generation. Grace has become an excuse to live self-centered lives and yet claim discipleship with Christ. The Bible makes no such room for careless living. Grace does not cover for sin but breaks the power of sin. Patience is ceaseless surrender in the face of many difficulties to that power of grace at work in the believer’s heart. The rapture of each of us to His presence will be the triumph of patience.

Listen to the Apostle of grace as he instructs us to patience. "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin" (Hebrews 12:1-4). The world will never be fair to the saints. There is no unity between us and a world under the sway of sin. We are the ones that must show them t he pure life and never expect them to understand the conflict until they are converted. We win others to Christ by patience.

"Let us run with patience the race that is set before us." It is a race, a contest and an arena of spiritual sport. There is a world full of dark spirits, wickedness in high places, and we are the opponents to be defeated. Day by day we must see ourselves in this race and learn to deal with each conflict patiently.

The other person may treat you wrongly, but our Father says, "Love your enemies." They may even hate you, but remember they hated Him first. Our struggle is never to be in a personal battle with individuals. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" (Ephesians 6:12-18) This is a struggle to the end. There is no coasting if you would win the prize. "In your patience, possess ye your soul" (Luke 21:19). The triumph of patience is the rapture of His saints.

The Rapture: Triumph of Holiness

Jesus plainly said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8).You will never find one scripture in the Holy Bible that even suggests that those living in sin will inherit the eternal kingdom. The opposite is always declared without compromise. The glory of the rapture will be the triumph of Holiness. Pure, Godly, separated saints will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air. The true church from Pentecost until this hour has been badgered over Holiness above every other thought. Theology is important but it never causes the attack that Holiness does. People will divide over denominations, ideas of church government, and other ecclesiastical matters but nothing causes more disputes than right and wrong. What is the lifestyle acceptable to be called a Bible Christian is t he ultimate place for church war.

Sometimes the problem is mainly the argument over man-made standards. The church has often been deeply divided over Holiness issues that are not Holiness at all. It would be impossible to name or describe all the man-made standards imposed on believers. Good people with impure spirits have developed man-made ideas about right and wrong that reflect nothing but self-righteousness. There are a lot of Scriptures that can be twisted to support many different man-made convictions. They always do more harm than good.

Bible Holiness is not only right but the only way into the Kingdom. The Gospel said, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). His church is a Holiness church. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good wor ks, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation" (I Peter 2:9-12). Search the history of every great awakeningÂ—Waldensians, Anabaptists, Huguenots, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, or PentecostalsÂ—in every case Holiness, separation from the world, was the character and culture. There is no such idea in Scripture of discipleship without Holiness.

I am not talking about man-made standards but a Biblical culture. Every human individual was created in the image of God. Our entire person was created in the Father’s likeness. As He is triune, in three persons, we are triune in spirit, soul, and body. There are three that bear witness in HeavenÂ—Father, Son, and Holy GhostÂ—three that bear witness on earthÂ—blood, water, and the spiritÂ—and there is a three-fold witness in every human person. We were created "a little lower than the angels, but crowned with glory" (Psalm 8:5). Because of our creation in the image of God, the ultimate sin is to mar and defile that image which is ourselves.

Every commandment and restriction in Holy Scripture is based on our likeness to God. Sin is anything that reduces my life from the image of my Father. The commandments, both in the First and New Testaments are never given to restrict our liberties or to place bondage on our lives. They are given to protect His likeness in men, to keep us in His image and in His glory. That’s the culture of Holiness that will fill heaven and the New Earth and no one will inherit the Heavenly future without the Heavenly culture and lifestyle. The Bible teaches this culture and clearly makes it the only acceptable life in His family. The Rapture will be the final triumph of Holiness over sin and worldly living. One church put the following on their outdoor sign, "The Rapture: Separation of Church & State."

The beauty and glory of the Trinity of God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost sets the GreatFaith of the Bible apart and above all the world. Our Father and God sits on His throne ruling His universe. His "Only Begotten Son" came as His Redeemer and their Holy Spirit make all God Is, known and available to all creation. There are many in the church world that have no idea of an experience or relationship with God. The reason is that they have no understanding of the God that reveals Himself. This is absolutely connected to the Office of God’s Holy Spirit. If one has no sense of this third Person of the Trinity then there is no one available to make God Known to them. The church world is dying for lack of understanding of the Baptism of the Spirit. The Holy Ghost is a Person and He has a tongue and language. This is why a person truly filled with the Holy Ghost speaks in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance. No one can teach another to speak in the Spirit and to try is close to blasphemy. The Holy Spirit is Sovereign and cannot be controlled by men. He can be grieve, quenched, resisted or blasphemed. When He is blasphemed He will never speak to that soul again. They are as good as in hell.Please send your questions or comments to jrc@pawcreek.org.